Reagent and sample handling device for automatic testing system

Abstract

A handling device for samples and reagents to be used in testing in a system. Carriers of samples and reagents are loaded on a platform which detects the presence of, and proper loading of, such carriers. The carriers are moved from the platform by a transporter to a bar code reader for identification. A reagent container is rotated during reading to facilitate identification. The transporter further moves identified reagent carriers to a carousel on which the carriers automatically secured for storage awaiting use in testing. The carousel rotates, and selected reagent containers rotate on the rotating carousel, during storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a loading platform of a diagnostic analyzer, the loading platform having a slot to receive a carrier; 
 a sensor to detect a presence of the carrier in the slot, the sensor including:
 an arm pivotably coupled to the loading platform, the arm extending at least partially into the slot, the arm pivoted when the carrier is disposed in the slot and engages the arm; and 
 an optical detector to detect a position of the arm and determine a presence or absence of the carrier based on the position of the arm; and 
 
 a status indicator that provides a first display when the carrier is not present in the slot and provides a second display when the sensor detects the carrier in the slot. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is pivotably coupled to a bottom side of the loading platform. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is to be in an upward position when the carrier is not present in the slot and the arm is to be in a downward position when the carrier is in the slot. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the arm is biased in the upward position via a spring. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  further including an opening defined in a bottom wall of the loading platform at the slot, wherein a knuckle of the arm is to extend through the opening into the slot in the upward position. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is located on a front side of the loading platform accessible by an operator. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator includes a light. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the light is not illuminated in the first display. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the light is illuminated in the second display. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the status indicator further provides a third display when the carrier has been retrieved from the slot and is being processed by the diagnostic analyzer. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light is illuminated a first color in the second display, and wherein the light is illuminated a second color different than the first color in the third display. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the status indicator includes a first light of a first color and a second light of a second color different than the first color, and the status indicator provides a third display when an error occurs with the carrier, wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated in the third display. 
     
     
       13. A method comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, when a carrier has been inserted into a slot of a loading platform on a diagnostic analyzer, the sensor including:
 an arm pivotably coupled to the loading platform, the arm extending at least partially into the slot, the arm pivoted when the carrier is disposed in the slot and engages the arm; and 
 an optical detector to detect a position of the arm and determine a presence or absence of the carrier based on the position of the arm; and 
 
 changing a display of a status indicator from a first display to a second display when the carrier is detected by the sensor in the slot. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the arm is pivotally coupled to an underside of the loading platform. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the status indicator includes a light, the method further including not illuminating the light in the first display and illuminating the light in the second display. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  further including:
 retrieving, via a robot, the carrier from the slot to be used in a diagnostic analysis; 
 detecting, via the sensor, when the carrier has been removed from the slot; and 
 changing the display of the status indicator from the second display to a third display when the sensor detects the carrier is removed from the slot. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the light is to be illuminated a first color in the second display, the method further including illuminating the light a second color different than the first color in the third display.